Fires under control after damaging houses, condos (UPDATE: 5:05 p.m.)

Tuesday

Jun 10, 2008 at 11:11 AMJun 10, 2008 at 2:05 PM

STOCKTON - In what officials are saying is the largest residential fire loss in city history, nine single family homes, 20 condominiums and a triplex were destroyed today by three wind-whipped fires that stretched firefighting resources and tested the emergency mutual aid system.

The Record

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STOCKTON - In what officials are saying is the largest residential fire loss in city history, nine single family homes, 20 condominiums and a triplex were destroyed today by three wind-whipped fires that stretched firefighting resources and tested the emergency mutual aid system.
The fires went to a fourth alarm quickly after first being reported about 10:30 a.m. today, forcing the recall of off-duty firefighters and the request for firefighting resources from surrounding fire departments.
But by early afternoon, Stockton Mayor Ed Chavez and Fire Chief Ron Hittle were praising the effort - by firefighters, police officers, neighbors and complete strangers -- that kept the devastation from being more severe.
The fires were under control by early afternoon, but firefighters were expected to be on scene of all three fires into the evening to make sure the fires are dead out.
While the speed in which the fires reduced single-family homes to charred rubble was stunning, there were no fatalities reported as of this afternoon and two firefighters were only slightly hurt battling the blaze.
Several other neighbors suffered smoke inhalation.
Stockton Fire Department arson investigators and Stockton police are investigating the cause of the grass fire that started near Interstate 5, moved quickly to wooden fences and then to trees and homes in the area. The single-family homes destroyed were in the Round Valley Circle neighborhood just west of Quail Lake and the fire hop-scotched from homes to trees and to other homes in adjourning court.
Fire officials said 20 units at Sunpointe Condominiums on Quail Lakes Drive also were lost in the fire.
At about the same time, firefighters were called to a triplex on Malvern Court. That triplex also was destroyed. Recalled Stockton firefighters and firefighters from outside agencies responded to at least two other fires while firefighters battled the blazes off Round Valley Circle, at Sunpointe Condominums, and on Malvern Court.
Displaced residents were directed to an American Red Cross evacuee center at the Quail Lakes Baptist Church, 1904 Quail Lakes Drive. A shelter was being set up at the Lincoln Presbyterian Chruch at 900 W. Douglas Road for those who did not have a place to stay, according to San Joaquin County Red Cross Executive Director Janine Brown.
Residents and nearby business owners were seen wetting down fences, walls and the roofs of homes as firefighters struggled to control the blaze.
Other residents could be seen shoving their clothes and belongings in their cars in an attempt to flee the area.
Sean McHugh, 43, a disabled California corrections officer who lives a quarter of a mile from Interstate 5 on Teal Court , saw the billowing smoke as he was preparing to leave his home on errands.
"I zipped over and saw firefighters using chain saws and axes to take out fences," he said. "I saw three homes on fire.
"I witnessed a family - a mother and boy - using a garden hose and then leaving when firefighters arrived. She escorted her son across street. He was barefoot and carrying his sneakers.
"The whole thing was amazing. Trees were engulfed as if covered in gasoline.
"I guess it was the pine with all the resin in it. Some of the trees were 20-30 tall and just whoosh, they went up in a second."
Check back for updates and see Wednesday's Record for more on the fire.